HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY: Pirates score early, often against Hamilton

WEST WINDSOR — Laurant Lassance knows if his West Windsor-Plainsboro South team is going to be successful it has to take care of its opportunities.

Last night, South certainly took advantage.

WW-P South made the most of its chances and came away with a 10-0 win over under-manned Hamilton in a Colonial Valley Conference skated on the ice at Mercer County Park.

The contest saw the Pirates (2-1) close things out after two periods in a game that saw Hamilton have to fight off 15 straight minutes of penalties.

Jonathan Matthews led the South attack with a hat trick and Mike Morabito added two goals. Single scores came from Brian Tso, Chris Colacello, Matt Sayde, Rob Brown and Chris Clancy.

Tso had an amazing assist game with six, while Sayde and Clancy each had one helper.

“It was a good game for us,” said Tso, a sophomore forward. “We competed really well and this is a step in the right direction.”

The Pirates dropped the season opener and have responded with a pair of wins.

“We had a long talk after the first game,” said Patrick Tso, who was between the pipes for South and had seven saves. “It is good the way we have bounced back. Things are going well and we have to continue to play together.”

There was a point in the first period when both teams got a little too close.

Hamilton lost a pair of players for fighting and South lost one.

“At that point everyone has to learn to keep their cool,” said Lassance. “I know that is easier said than done.”

After the dust settled and hockey resumed South seized the moment and took advantage of the power play situation.

“One thing we wanted to do was make sure it didn’t go longer than it needed to,” Lassance stated. “I’m thankful that we finished the job.”

The question hovering over Hamilton will be how it will handle being two players down for a few games.

“Fatigue and frustration,’’ said Hamilton coach, Matt Hamilton. “We have kids playing that are young and inexperienced. When we get a situation like that we have to maintain our composure, no question about it. We are going to have to deal with the situation and regroup.”

The numbers don’t make it an easy situation for the Hornets and for the Pirates all the numbers – especially on the scoreboard – are headed in the right direction.